CH
Swiss Confederation
Switzerland
Summary
Official Name
Swiss Confederation
International Conventions
CPPDCE (2008), CSICH (2008), ECRML (1997), FCPNM (1998), ICCPR (1992), UNCRPD (2014), UNDRIP (2007)
Population
8,545,000
Principal Languages
French, Italian, Standard German
Literacy Rate
99% (Roser and Ortiz-Ospina 2018)
General References
Comrie 1987, Moulton 1988, Stephens 1976
Language Counts
The number of established languages listed for Switzerland is 13. All are living languages. Of these, 10 are indigenous and 3 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 5 are institutional, 5 are developing, 1 is vigorous, 1 is in trouble, and 1 is dying. Also listed are 17 unestablished languages.
Languages
- Albanian, Gheg aln
- Users: 171,000 in Switzerland (2012 UNSD). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Albanian, Gheg
- Arabic, North Levantine Spoken apc
- Users: 32,500 in Switzerland (2012 UNSD). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
- Arpitan frp
- Bern canton: Bernese Jura; Fribourg canton: de la Broye, de la Glane, de la Sarine, de la Veveyse, and la Gruyere; Geneva, Neuchâtel, and Vaud cantons; Valais canton: d’Entremont, d’Herens, de Sierre de Monthey, Saint-Maurice, districts. Users: 7,000 in Switzerland (1998). Status: 8a (Moribund). Alternate Names: Patois, Romand Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, Southeastern
- Czech ces
- Users: 11,000 in Switzerland (2012 UNSD). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, West, Czech-Slovak
- Danish dan
- Users: 5,220 in Switzerland (2012 UNSD). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, North, East Scandinavian, Danish-Swedish, Danish-Riksmal, Danish
- Dutch nld
- Users: 22,200 in Switzerland (2012 UNSD). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, Low Saxon-Low Franconian, Low Franconian
- English eng
- Users: 4,733,000 in Switzerland, all users. L1 users: 483,000 in Switzerland (2018 census). L2 users: 4,250,000 (2018). Status: 4 (Educational). Alternate Names: Anglais, Englaisa, Englisch, Inglese Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
- Finnish fin
- Users: 3,930 in Switzerland (2012 UNSD). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Uralic, Finnic
- French fra
- Fribourg, Geneva, Jura, Neuchâtel, and Vaud cantons. Users: 5,732,000 in Switzerland, all users. L1 users: 1,912,000 in Switzerland (2018 census). L2 users: 3,820,000 (Beck et al 2018). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1999, Constitution, Article 70(1)), co-equal with Italian [ita] and Standard German [deu] on the federal level. Alternate Names: Francese, Französisch, Français Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French
- German, Standard deu
- Users: 292,000 in Switzerland (2013 census). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1999, Constitution, Article 70(1)), co-equal with Italian [ita] and French [fra] on the federal level. Alternate Names: Allemand, Deutsch, Tedesco, Tudestg Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Middle German, East Middle German
- German, Swiss gsw
- Widespread. Users: 5,200,000 in Switzerland (2018 census). Total users in all countries: 6,434,400. Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Alemanic, Alemannic, Alemannisch, Schweizerdeutsch, Schwiizertüütsch, Schwizerdütsch, Schwizertitsch, Schwizertitsch Mundart, Schwytzertuetsch, Schwyzerdütsch, Schwyzerdütschi Sprooch, Upper Alemannic Autonym: Schwiizerdütsch Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Upper German, Alemannic
- Greek ell
- Users: 8,420 in Switzerland (2012 UNSD). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Greek, Attic
- Hungarian hun
- Users: 14,600 in Switzerland (2012 UNSD). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Uralic
- Italian ita
- Graubünden and Ticino cantons. Users: 673,000 in Switzerland (2018 census). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1999, Constitution, Article 70(1)), co-equal with French [fra] and Standard German [deu] on the federal level. Alternate Names: Italiano, Italienisch Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Italo-Dalmatian
- Kabuverdianu kea
- Users: 2,100 in Switzerland (2015 Instituto de Apoio ao Emigrante). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Creole, Portuguese based
- Kurdish, Northern kmr
- Users: 35,100 in Switzerland (2000). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Kurdish
- Lombard lmo
- Graubünden canton: Bernina, Maloggia, and Moesa districts, south of Saint Moritz; Ticino canton. Users: 303,000 in Switzerland (1995). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Italian
- Portuguese por
- Users: 210,000 in Switzerland (2012 UNSD). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Portuguese-Galician
- Romani, Sinte rmo
- Scattered. Users: 21,000 in Switzerland (Johnstone 1993). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Romanes, Sinte, Sinti Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Romani, Northern
- Romansh roh
- Graubünden canton: Hinterrhein, Inn, Maloja, and Surselva districts. Users: 40,000 (2012 census). 1 canton. Status: 2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in Grisons Canton (2004, Grisons Cantonal Constitution, Article 3(1)). Alternate Names: Rhaeto-Romance, Rheto-Romance, Romanche, Romansch Autonym: Rumantsch Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Rhaetian
- Serbian srp
- Users: 205,000 in Switzerland (2014 World Factbook). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, South, Western
- Spanish spa
- Users: 140,300 in Switzerland, all users. L1 users: 124,000 in Switzerland (Instituto Cervantes 2019). L2 users: 16,300 (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Castilian
- Swedish swe
- Users: 9,230 in Switzerland (2012 UNSD). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, North, East Scandinavian, Danish-Swedish, Swedish
- Swiss-French Sign Language ssr
- Scattered. Fribourg canton: Delémont, Morges, Oron, and Zion; Geneva and Vaud cantons; Neuchâtel canton: La Chaux-de-Fonds. Users: 1,700 (Boyes Braem and Rathmann 2010). Estimated, less than 0.1% of total population of francophone Switzerland. 10,000 deaf signers in all of Switzerland (2014 EUD). Status: 5 (Developing). Recognized language (2002, Federal Parliament, Law on Equality for Disabled People). Alternate Names: LSF, LSF-SR, Langage Gestuelle, Langue des signes française, Langue des signes suisse romande Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
- Swiss-German Sign Language sgg
- Scattered. Users: 5,500 in Switzerland (Boyes Braem and Rathmann 2010). Approximately 0.1% of total population in German-speaking areas. 10,000 deaf signers in all of Switzerland (2014 EUD). Total users in all countries: 5,540. Status: 5 (Developing). Recognized language (2002, Federal Parliament, Law on Equality for Disabled People). Alternate Names: DGS, DSGS, Deutschschweizer Gebärdensprache, Deutschschweizerische Gebärdensprache, Natürliche Gebärde Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
- Swiss-Italian Sign Language slf
- Scattered. Graubünden and Ticino cantons. Users: 300 (Boyes Braem and Rathmann 2010). Estimated, less than 0.1% of total population in Italian areas. 10,000 deaf signers in all of Switzerland (2021 EUD). Status: 5 (Developing). Recognized language (2002, Federal Parliament, Law on Equality for Disabled People). Alternate Names: LIS, LIS-SI, Lingua dei Segni Italiana, Lingua dei segni della Svizzera italiana Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
- Tibetan bod
- Users: 1,430 in Switzerland (2000). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Western Tibeto-Burman, Bodish, Central Bodish, Central
- Turkish tur
- Users: 75,500 in Switzerland (2012 UNSD). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Southern, Turkish
- Walser wae
- Graubünden canton: Albula, Hinterrhein, Plessur, Prattigau-Davos, and Surselva districts; Ticino canton: Bosco-Gurin; Valais canton: Simplon; 26 communities. Users: 10,000 in Switzerland (2004). Ethnic population: 21,900 (1980 C. Buchli). Total users in all countries: 22,780. Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: Walscher Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Upper German, Alemannic
Languages by Status
German, Standard
[deu] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1999, Constitution, Article 70(1)), co-equal with Italian [ita] and French [fra] on the federal level. 292,000 in Switzerland (2013 census).
French
[fra] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1999, Constitution, Article 70(1)), co-equal with Italian [ita] and Standard German [deu] on the federal level. 5,732,000 in Switzerland, all users. L1 users: 1,912,000 in Switzerland (2018 census). L2 users: 3,820,000 (Beck et al 2018).
Italian
[ita] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1999, Constitution, Article 70(1)), co-equal with French [fra] and Standard German [deu] on the federal level. 673,000 in Switzerland (2018 census).
Romansh
[roh] 2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in Grisons Canton (2004, Grisons Cantonal Constitution, Article 3(1)). 40,000 (2012 census). 1 canton.
English
[eng] 4 (Educational). 4,733,000 in Switzerland, all users. L1 users: 483,000 in Switzerland (2018 census). L2 users: 4,250,000 (2018).
Romani, Sinte
[rmo] 5* (Dispersed). 21,000 in Switzerland (Johnstone 1993).
German, Swiss
[gsw] 5* (Developing). 5,200,000 in Switzerland (2018 census). Total users in all countries: 6,434,400.
Swiss-German Sign Language
[sgg] 5 (Developing). Recognized language (2002, Federal Parliament, Law on Equality for Disabled People). 5,500 in Switzerland (Boyes Braem and Rathmann 2010). Approximately 0.1% of total population in German-speaking areas. 10,000 deaf signers in all of Switzerland (2014 EUD). Total users in all countries: 5,540.
Swiss-Italian Sign Language
[slf] 5 (Developing). Recognized language (2002, Federal Parliament, Law on Equality for Disabled People). 300 (Boyes Braem and Rathmann 2010). Estimated, less than 0.1% of total population in Italian areas. 10,000 deaf signers in all of Switzerland (2021 EUD).
Swiss-French Sign Language
[ssr] 5 (Developing). Recognized language (2002, Federal Parliament, Law on Equality for Disabled People). 1,700 (Boyes Braem and Rathmann 2010). Estimated, less than 0.1% of total population of francophone Switzerland. 10,000 deaf signers in all of Switzerland (2014 EUD).
Lombard
[lmo] 6a* (Vigorous). 303,000 in Switzerland (1995).
Walser
[wae] 6b* (Threatened). 10,000 in Switzerland (2004). Ethnic population: 21,900 (1980 C. Buchli). Total users in all countries: 22,780.
Arpitan
[frp] 8a (Moribund). 7,000 in Switzerland (1998).
Liechtenstein and Switzerland
Language Vitality Profile
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Language Status Profile
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